Republican Bigotry Trumps Minority Rights

According to a post at the Democratic Underground:

Gay and lesbian state workers in Virginia are no longer specifically protected against discrimination, thanks to a little-noticed change made by new Gov. Bob McDonnell.

McDonnell (R) on Feb. 5 signed an executive order that prohibits discrimination “on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, political affiliation, or against otherwise qualified persons with disabilities,” as well as veterans.

It rescinds the order that Gov. Tim Kaine signed Jan. 14, 2006 as one of his first actions. After promising a “fair and inclusive” administration in his inaugural address, Kaine (D) added veterans to the non-discrimination policy – and sexual orientation.

McDonnell’s office sent along this memo from his chief of staff that they have suggested to reporters prevents any and all discrimination. It reads, in part:

It shall be the policy of the office of the Governor to ensure equal opportunity in the workplace, encourage excellence by rewarding achievement based on merit, and prohibit discrimination for any reason. Hiring, promotion, discipline and termination of employees shall be based on qualifications, performance and results.

But the LGBT trade press sees it as a “sad” development that strips state workers of protections that they had under the last administration.

Kaine declined to comment through spokesman Hari Sevugan, who said McDonnell should be “ashamed” for the new policy.

Sevugan said:

It says a lot about the Republican party that they would anoint as their ‘rising star’ someone who in 2010 is actually stripping away from Americans legal protections against discrimination. Bob McDonnell is proving his critics right. He said he’d focus on creating jobs, not social issues. But, one of his first acts as Governor was to make it easier for a fellow citizen to be denied a job and he did so as an adherent to a right-wing ideology that allows for such discriminatory behavior. McDonnell’s decision is just plain wrong in any context, but especially so in this economic climate.

In another development, the Washington Post reported that a measure passed the Democratic-controlled state Senate that would protect state workers from discrimination due to sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. The bill is all-but-certain to fail in the Republican-controlled House of Delegates.

NH House Kills Marriage Ban Amendment

Yesterday, the New Hampshire House rejected the proposed constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between one man and one woman, ultimately taking away the right to marry for gay and lesbian couples, by a vote of 201-135.

Most of the state’s legislators seem content with the decision and are considering it case closed, but…there’s always one.

Rep. David Bates (R-Windham) says the case if far from closed, and if he has anything to do with it gay people will remain second class citizens by a referendum of popular vote. Bates is the driving force behind creating a ballot measure that would let the state’s voters decide the issue.

But surprisingly, not all Republicans seem to agree with Bates. Rep. Anthony DiFruscia (R-Windham) commented, “We are not a referendum state.”

New Hampshire became the fifth state to legalize marriage equality on January 1st of this year but Bates and other Republicans stand against the decision based upon their personal religious ideology, thus are pushing hard to change the state constitution to once again ban same-sex marriages.

DiFuscia strongly disagrees however, stating all people, whether gay or straight should have the right to marry the person they love as marriage is a civil right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. DiFruscia also stated he expects the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately decide the issue setting the precedence for all tax-paying American citizens.

Bates has counters however by stating the voters have a right to decide the issue, and in essence, should have the right to legislate discrimination if they see fit. Bates claims voter’s opinions are relevant “and we must know the views of New Hampshire citizens on marriage to settle this debate.” One thing Bates seems to not understand, Civil Rights, whether it be for women, people of color, or any other “minority” group should never be left up to the majority, rather guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

Bates also showed his vigor for maintaining discrimination by stating:

“The redefinition of marriage in New Hampshire did not happen overnight. It is OK if it takes more than one attempt to restore the meaning of “marriage” to the union of one man and one woman.”

Bates has also warned his fellow lawmakers who support equality to expect to loose their seats when they come up for reelection as the state’s voters will demonstrate their will to keep same-sex marriage illegal by voting out those who supported marriage equality.

Don’t Upset Iraq By Repealing DADT

This is classic right wing lunacy if I’ve ever heard it!

According to a post on Wonk Room:

On Tuesday, the Missouri State Senate debated President Obama’s call to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) with dueling “non-binding resolutions alternately calling for the repeal and preservation of the military policy.” Both sides regurgitated familiar arguments but State Senator Gary Nodler, who is running in the Republican primary for Rep. Roy Blunt’s (R-MI) seat, carved out a new reason for maintaining the current policy.

Nodler said that “being openly gay in the military ‘in and of itself‘ could be grounds for a sexual harassment complaint by another serviceman, and characterized Don’t Ask Don’t Tell as a way to accommodate gays’ service ‘in a way that doesn’t create a hostile workplace.’” Then, Nodler suggested that allowing openly gay soldiers in the military “could represent a ‘cultural affront‘” to terrorists intent on killing American troops.

To which Nodler responded:

I never said that this would be a cultural affront to terrorists. I don’t care what they think. I said it would be a cultuaral affront to the Muslims in who’s country we are operating. We can not win the hearts and minds of the people by insulting them and ignoring the standards of their culture. This is about the people who live there and the armies we are serving with. Your comment makes the common mistake that all Muslims are terrorists.

So, a Republican admitting that not all Muslims are terrorist…I do believe that’s a first. But this is common right wing lunacy…”win the hearts and minds of the people by insulting them.” Wow, since when has a Republican been concerned about winning the hearts and minds of any one outside of their party…especially Muslims? What about the hearts and minds of the tax-paying American citizens you want to keep locked in a closet. Shouldn’t you be worried about what’s going on in your house before you worry about your neighbors?

Nodler, thank you for providing me with a hearty laugh, you’re definitely the “right wing tool of the week” in my book!

Support Freedom To Marry!

We all have the same goal: winning the freedom to marry for same-sex couples throughout the United States.

Together, we’ve experienced the joy of marriage victories in five states and the District of Columbia, and the pain of temporary defeats along the way. We know what it will take to win: An affirmative and sustained campaign to build a majority for marriage and a broad-based movement of supporters like you committed to securing the freedom to marry nationwide.

Add your voice to those supporting the freedom to marry by signing the Freedom to Marry Pledge:

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Because this moment presents great opportunities amid challenges, Freedom to Marry is upping its game to better serve the movement. Our new Online Action Center empowers you to help win marriage in your community and nationwide.

The new Freedom to Marry Online Action Center puts you in control:

• Want to start a conversation with your friends and family about marriage equality? Visit the site to learn how.
• Want to tell your legislator about the importance of marriage rights? The site will give you the tools.
• Want to support the campaign with a strategy to win marriage nationwide? Join us.

Get started now. Join the movement by taking the Freedom to Marry Pledge:

http://freedomtomarry.org/TakeThePledge

For the past seven years, Freedom to Marry has played a key, behind-the-scenes role in the movement. But as the challenges keep getting tougher and our opponents keep getting stronger, we are evolving to meet the needs of the moment.

The new Freedom to Marry Online Action Center is one part of our plan to win marriage nationwide. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll launch new programs and campaigns to strengthen the movement. I look forward to talking with you about these new efforts and introducing you to other members of the Freedom to Marry team.

Thank you for signing the pledge – and for taking another step to make a difference.

We’re on the road to victory, and together we will bring it home.

Evan Wolfson
Executive Director, Freedom to Marry

The Real Fear of Granting Equality

As with every other LGBT equality issue, there seems to be a lot of black, a lot of white, and no gray.  Basically because we’re talking about equality, civil rights, and well…equality, and when it comes to equality, there really isn’t any gray area.  Either you’re a tax-paying American citizen granted all equal rights according to law or you’re a LGBT tax-paying second class American citizen without all the rights granted, and taken for granted by “straight” Americans.

When it comes down to the debate over whether all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation, should be equal, or if some should legally be discriminated against, there’s not a lot of gray area there either.  Some are very open with their chosen religious ideologies that LGBT citizens don’t deserve equality because God hates them and others follow the thought a person’s religious beliefs shouldn’t dictate who is a first or second class citizen…even though Christians have discriminated against Blacks, Hispanics, Jews and every other “minority” group in the US, at some point in history.

There also seems to be a very distinct dividing line between Republican and Democrat when it comes to beliefs about equality.  Most Republicans, (with the exception of the McCain ladies of course) want the theological influence of the religious right to dictate laws and equality and Democrats generally believe people are people…and we’re all human.

So, comes the troubled debate of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.  Now many in the LGBT community have thrown harsh criticisms towards President Obama, starting almost immediately after he took office merely a year ago, for not repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell immediately, and thus somehow not living up to his campaign promises.  One small omission in their criticism however, he never gave a time-line for the repeal and he never said it would be easy. What they don’t seem to understand is the amount of resistance coming from the Republicans.

So here come the Anti-Gay Republicans…STOP…WAIT…we can’t let gays serve openly in the military…especially while we’re in the middle of two wars (spurred on by what…a Republican)!

According to a post on WDSU:

President Barack Obama has called for a repeal of the policy, a move that require congressional action. If he succeeds, it would mark the biggest shake up to military personnel policies since President Harry S. Truman’s 1948 executive order integrating the services.”

No matter how I look at the issue,” Mullen said, “I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens.” Noting that he was speaking for himself and not for the other service chiefs, Mullen added: “For me, it comes down to integrity — theirs as individuals and ours as an institution.”

Sen. John McCain, the ranking Republican on the panel, publicly bristled at the Pentagon’s decision to the study, saying he is “deeply disappointed” and calling the assessment “clearly biased” because it presumes the law should be changed.”Has this policy been ideal? No, it has not,” McCain said. “But it has been effective.”Several other Republicans sided with McCain, warning Mullen and Gates not to pursue a change at a time when the United States is fighting two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and facing a continuing threat of terrorism. Democrats said they would back a change in policy.

Now, I want to ask…why the great resistance? What does this really mean? Well, you’ve got the anti-gay Republicans who obvious think that somehow allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military will weaken our military. Then we have the Democrats who simply don’t buy into it.

Here’s where the gray area starts to seep in however. Is this really a concern over a weakened military? I don’t think so. What’s really a stake here? Equality. Republicans, as ignorant as they can appear, are not stupid. They understand the effect of allowing gays to serve openly in the military, and no I’m not talking about bad effects on the military. They are aware that if the law is appealed, and gays and lesbians are allowed to serve openly, there will be no negative impacts. They understand their greatest ammunition (pun intended) against the LGBT community is the unknown. They also understand those fears of the unknown is the only thing keeping their party alive and well. They have based nearly their entire platform on fighting against GLBT equality. Once the military is free of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and our military becomes stronger than ever, they will again lose credibility in their discrimination. Just as allowing GLBT couples to marry won’t be detrimental to, but rather strengthen the institution of marriage, the only thing they have on their side right now is speculation and the unknown. Once that’s gone, their whole Republican anti-gay platform, or basically their whole platform will be gone. The only thing equality will be detrimental to is the Republican party. Knowing the effect of gay marriage and ending don’t ask don’t tell will only prove their bigotry and homophobia for what it is…wrong!

Why do Republicans resist equality? It’s all they have to hold onto!

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